Wrexham simply didn’t have enough to beat Barnsley on New Year’s Day, and Max Cleworth has admitted the Red Dragons need to do better from now on.
Despite a strong second half showing from Wrexham, with a slew of efforts on Barnsley’s goal, Phil Parkinson’s side were unable to turn around the deficit at Oakwell.
There is a question as to whether Wrexham deserved the defeat, but ultimately, it’s three points dropped in the hunt for promotion and a bad start to 2025.
Max Cleworth did get himself on the scoresheet, though, but the Wrexham academy starlet did not seem in the mood for celebrating after the game.
Wrexham were punished by a ‘sloppy’ ten-minute period vs Barnsley
In his post-match interview (via the Wrexham YouTube channel), Cleworth underlined just how frustrated the whole Wrexham squad are in defeat, and insisted the team could and should have done better on the day.
He said: “Frustrating one. I think for a lot of the game it set up for us to give it a go, we had no other option. But it’s a ten-minute spell where two sloppy goals have cost us the game. We had opportunities to go on and even win the game, or at least get something, but it wasn’t to be.
“I think we’re all frustrated as a collective. It was just that spell that cost us, we need to look at that. In the second half we gave it a go, but that’s the minimum we expect of ourselves. Unfortunately the quality just wasn’t there to get the second goal.”
But, Cleworth suggested there is no time to beat themselves up about the result, and turned his attention to the game against Peterborough at the weekend as a chance for redemption.
He added: “I certainly don’t think it’s a time to get our heads down. We’re a big club, we should be around the play-offs, we dominated the second half, and it’s just two goals that took it away from us.
“We’ve got a togetherness that’s been here since the gaffer came in, and that will help us pick ourselves back up again on Saturday.”
Peterborough game now becomes crucial for Wrexham in promotion race
It’s all about Wrexham’s reaction now, and that game against Peterborough on Saturday is the perfect opportunity for them to get back on track.
Phil Parkinson felt his team deserved more from the Barnsley game, but all that really matters is points on the board.
Peterborough are wallowing down in 18th place in the table right now, and with Wrexham back at the Racecourse Ground, a big reaction and a big result is very much expected.
If Wrexham can win, they will soon forget about that Barnsley defeat. But, fail to beat Peterborough, and the loss at Oakwell becomes more of a problem.